Citizenship in Athens and Rome: Which Was the Better System?

Category/Bucket/Theme Qualifications for Citizenship Limitations on Citizenship Citizens in Government *You can come up with categories that are different from these, but they need to tie with the documents.

Outline Grabber: Rome and Athens both gave the gift of citizenship to their people. Background: The idea of citizenship was born 500 years prior to the birth of Christ. The idea of being a subject versus a citizen with both rights and duties to their nation.

Outline continued: Thesis and roadmap: Option 1: Rome had the better system for three reasons: citizenship for foreigners, adjustments by the censors, limits on citizenship membership in the Roman Senate.

Thesis and roadmap: Option 2: Athens had the better system for the following reasons; all citizens were equal, the power of ostracism, and full participation in the Assembly.

Body Paragraphs Baby Thesis: Citizenship being granted to conquered foes are one reason for Rome having a better system. Evidence: According to Emperor Claudius, not granting citizenship to foes was the reason for Athens’ fall (Doc C).

Body Paragraph continued Argument: Citizenship changed an enemy to a friend and was less costly to administer a friendly outpost.

Conclusion Although Athenian citizenship had many positives, like the belief of the common man being at the base of Athenian power, this was more a noble though than a useful principle. Rome did give citizenship to additional groups, but limited rights where appropriate. Roman citizenship was guided not just by the heart but also by the head.